But Gunners boss Wenger may yet move for Yanga-Mbiwa - and that could mean another last-minute blow for Newcastle who lost out on Loic Remy when QPR came in at the 11th hour.

Yanga-Mbiwa, 23, is highly rated in France and can play right back, centre back and also operate as a holding midfielder.

Arsenal
have been scouting Yanga-Mbiwa for nearly a year and they have been checking on him to see whether he would be suitable to come in to compete with Carl Jenkinson next season with Bacary Sagna likely to leave next summer.

Wenger has also wanted a versatile defender and Yanga-Mbiwa is also seen as having potential to be first choice in the French national team as centre half.

But it is understood Arsenal have some reservations about Yanga-Mbiwa and now they must decide quickly - or lose out altogether.

Newcastle
have made the first move and stolen a march on AC Milan who were also keen and boss Alan Pardew is hopeful of getting his man.

They moved in to snap him up as a replacement for Fabricio Coloccini, 30, as the Argentine international wants to return home for what Pardew describes as "personal reasons."

Pardew has not given up on persuading him to stay but sees Yanga-Mbiwa as the perfect solution to his defensive problems.